Updated Mechanisms of IL-6 in Human Endothelial Cells.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine primarily involved in inflammation and vascular remodeling. While it is known to influence angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, the underlying mechanisms and downstream targets in endothelial cells (ECs) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the angiogenic effect of IL-6 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1 cells) and to gain insights into the mechanistic pathways involved.

The role of IGF-2 and its variants in enhancing endothelial migration and angiogenesis.

Introduction: Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is essential for physiological processes such as tissue repair as well as pathological conditions including cancer. While insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) is identified as a key regulator of angiogenesis, the contributions of its variants remain less explored.

Methods: We compared the effects of wildtype IGF-2 with that of Des(1-6)IGF-2, which has lower affinity to IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), and Leu27IGF2, which interacts selectively with the IGF-Receptor 2.

Extracellular vesicles: innovative cell-free solutions for wound repair.

Chronic non-healing wounds are often associated with conditions such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, pose significant medical and socioeconomic challenges. Cell-based therapies have shown promise in promoting wound healing but have major drawbacks such as immunogenicity and tumor formation. As a result, recent research has shifted to the potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from these cells.

Manufacture of extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stromal cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising therapy for various diseases ranging from ischemic stroke to wound healing and cancer. Their therapeutic effects are mainly mediated by secretome-derived paracrine factors, with extracellular vesicles (EVs) proven to play a key role. This has led to promising research on the potential of MSC-EVs as regenerative, off-the-shelf therapeutic agents.